Sheet metal handle



July 31, 1951 H. E. BRANDT SHEET METAL HANDLE Filed Jan. 20, 1945 zB t IWQA HEN U Patented July 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET 1VIETAL HANDLE Henry E. Brandt, North St. Paul, Minn. ApplicationJanuary 20, 1945, Serial No. 573,767

This invention relates to a handle structure and method of making the same and while'the invention is capable of various applications, in the embodiment of the same illustrated and described it'is applied to a handle for a pump rod such as commonly used in a sprayer structure.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, convenient and efficient method-of forming a handle for a rod from a blank of sheet material such as metal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of forming a handle which consists in making an elongated blank of sheet metal, folding the same into curved form along a substantially central longitudinal line, forming a socket at the central portion of said blank, which socket is adapted to receive a rod.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a method of forming a handle equipped rod which consists in providing an elongated blank of sheet metal, preferably substantially rectangular in form, folding said blank along a central longitudinal line into substantially U-shape, placing a cylindrical member between the sides of said blank at the central portion thereof, pressing the sides of said folded blank about said cylindrical member to form a socket and pressing the free edges of said blank together at its end portions to form a closed figure substantially elliptical in cross section, removing said cylindrical member, inserting a rod into said socket and welding the same to said handle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a handle comprising a piece of sheet metal of elongated form folded into curved form about a substantially cylindrical longitudinal line, the same having its free edge portions formed into a socket at the central portion thereof and said portions folded into substantial contact at the end portions thereof.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a handle structure formed of an elongated piece of sheet metal preferably of rectangular form, said piece being folded into curved form about a substantially cylindrical longitudinal line, the free edge portions adjacent the ends of said piece being folded into contact to form a closed figure substantially elliptical in cross section, and the edge portions adjacent the center of said piece being pressed into semi-cylindrical form respectively to form a socket and a rod disposed in said socket and welded to said piece.

These and other objects and advantages of the IClaiin. (01. 16-111) from the right of Fig. 1;

. .2 invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which- Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of said handle structure; s

,Fig. 2 is a partial view in endelevationas seen Fig. 3isa partial'view in vertical section, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows;.

Fig. i is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 isa plan view of the blank used;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the blank at an intermediate point in the method;

Fig. 7 is a view in end elevation of the blank as shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the completed handle;

Fig. 9 is a view in end elevation as seen from the left of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a partial bottom plan view of the blank in condition shown in Figs. 6 and 7 With a cylindrical die member in place therein.

Referring to the drawings, the handle structure is shown, the handle portion of which is formed from a blank [0 as shown in Fig. 5. Said blank I!) is made of flexible sheet material such as sheet metal, and while its form could be varied, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as rectangular in plan. In the method of making said handle, said blank I0 is folded in curved form about a substantially central longitudinal line into the form shown in Figs. 6 and '7. The blank has been folded into substantially U shape with the free edge portions um bent slightly inwardly or toward each other. A cylindrical die H is now placed between the sides of the blank and the sides of the blank at the central portion of the same are pressed together about the die member ll. Said die member H is positioned with one end spaced a considerable distance from the top portion of the blank and when the sides are pressed together, as shown at lflb, and are pressed about member H, a socket is formed by the oppositely disposed semi-cylindrical portions Inc, which socket is substantially cylindrical in transverse cross section. When the side portions lOb were pressed together and about die member II, the edge portions [0a adjacent the ends of the blank were pressed into substantial contact as shown in Fig. 7. A closed structure is thus formed which is in end elevation or transverse cross section substantially elliptical or of oblong shape, as shown in Figs. 2 and 9. The die member or mandrel H is now removed and the rod I2 is inserted into the socket formed by portions I00, and the sides of the socket are pressed against and spot welded to rod 12 as indicated at Id. The handle is now completely formed and the rod 12 is securely attached thereto.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simple, convenient and eflicient method of making a handle or handle structure and that a handle which is very comfortable to operate is produced. The curved top and bottom portions of the handle render it comfortable to grasp in the hand and the fingers of the hand can be placed at both sides of the rod l2. The metal from which the handle is made, while being flexible enough to be conveniently bent into the desired fort-n, is suffidiently rigid'so that the handle has great st'r'en'g'th and retains its shape. The same can -stand considerable pressure and rough usage without being dented or distorted in form.

The method and handle structure have been amply demonstrated in actual practicefound to very successful and efficient, and the s'tr-actur is being commercially made,

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made .in the steps and sequence of steps of the method and in the :ronn, details and proportions or the handle without departing from applicants invention, which generally stated, consists of a method and product capable of carrying out the objects above specified and 4 as disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A handle formed from a substantially rectangular blank of thin sheet metal comprising end portions of uniform oblong shape in cross section with their sides converging slightly downwardly, the central lower portion of said handle having its sides extending inwardly to form a substantially cylindrical socket open at its lower side and extending substantially to the vertical midline of said handle, the top of said handle thus having a substantially semi-cylindrical bight extending throughout its length of uniform size and shape.

HENRY E. BRANDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 978,652 Rodger .a l- Dec. 13, 1910 1,0945 68 Zerk h a- N- r Apr. 28, 1914 19813883 Toof e;- r. Oct. 15, 1918 1,283,459 Beck G has, Nov. 5, 1918 1,314,078 Hard m i Aug. 26, 1 919 -1-,f1:17,393 Lassiter =et al. May 23, 1922 'l,, 636 ,0;ll Nicholson has. he. July -.19, 1927 1,831,397 Shatkin .w. Nov. 1D, 1931 4,916,413 Moore :et -al. Maw. June '27, 1933 2,236,922 Schutt animus- Apr. 1, .1941 2,263,660 V-asselli hwwfihs- Nov. 25, I941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 325,341 Great Britain "be-.. 'Feb. 20., 1930 

